YOU WROTE>>>>>>>>>"
US Airways is poised to take on the LCC's and the legacy carriers in their own back yards, and my money is on US Airways. ">>>>>>>>>>>>
This is NWA's answer to U.S air in DTW..........guess who will win ???
Also, Checkout what NWA did to ATA in THEIR hometown
U.S. Airways offers low D.C. deal; Northwest counters
Fierce competition among airlines pushes already unprofitable low fares further.
By Joel J. Smith / The Detroit News
ROMULUS -- U.S. Airways announced new nonstop service Wednesday between Detroit and Ronald Reagan Washington Airport at a special low introductory fare that prompted Northwest Airlines to respond with lower fares to the nation's capital.
U.S. Airways' new service from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Washington's closest airport begins Feb. 6 with four daily round-trip flights at an introductory price of $148, including taxes and fees. The tickets must be bought by Feb. 1 and are good through March 24.
Northwest countered Wednesday with a promotional round-trip early morning flight at $124 and later daytime flights at $136 roundtrip. The Northwest tickets require a seven-day advanced purchase for travel through March 24.
"This was in response to the U.S. Airways announcement," said Thomas Becher, manager of media relations for Northwest, which has its largest hub at Detroit Metro with nearly 700 daily departures.
Analysts have cited fierce competition between airlines as helping to compound the industry's financial problems by pushing already unprofitably low fares down further. U.S. carriers have recorded losses of almost $30 billion since 2001.
Amy Kudwa, a U.S. Airways spokeswoman, said the new Detroit flights to Washington are aimed at attracting the business traveler. "Washington DC is one of our key focus cities. We're connecting it to business markets like Detroit. It is an important part of our transformation plan," said Kudwa.
U.S. Airways is in bankruptcy, struggling to restructure the airline to stay in business. The airline has extracted $800 million in cost savings from employees.